Strap release for casket and burial vault lowering devices



STRAP RELEASE FOR CASKET AND BURIAL VAULT LOWERING DEVICES Filed Dec. 8. 1932 STATES PATENT FFECE STRAP RELEASE FOR CASKET AND BURIAL VAULT LOWERING DEVICES Willard A. Johnson, Lancaster, Wis. Application December 8, 1932. Serial No. 646,311

2 Claims. (01. 272) This invention relates to improvements in unrespectively by the numerals 2 and 3. The device dertaking devices and pertains particularly to a embodying the present invention is applied to lowering device strap release for burial vaults the under side of the bottom of the vault or, when and caskets. used in connection with the casket, is applied In lowering caskets and burial vaults into to the bottom thereof, and this device is indigraves there is usually employed a lowering decated generally by the numeral 4. The device vice which makes use of a pair or more of straps 4 comprises a bar of strap iron which is preferwhich pass under the casket or vault and faciliably of two inches in width and approximately tate the dropping or lowering of the same evenly one-quarter inch thick and intermediate its ends and smoothly. When the casket comes to rest it is formed to provide the relatively long off-set upon the fioor of the grave these straps frequentportion 5 while at each end a turned-up portion ly become tightly held and considerable difliculty 6 is formed in the manner shown. Each of the is experienced in removing them. turned-up end portions 6 of the bar is rounded The primary object of the present invention as indicated at 7 and is provided with the aperis to provide a means whereby the release or reture 8. Each of the bars 4 is thus formed to promoval of the lowering straps may be easily efvide the two foot portions 9 which are located at fected. the sides of the vault or casket when the device The invention broadly contemplates the prois in use. vision of a pair or supporting elements which are As previously stated each vault or casket is pivotally attached to the under side of the vault provided with two of the supporting devices 4 or casket so that under normal conditions they and these are disposed transversely of the bottom may be swung up out of view but in placing the and the ends of the up-standing portions 6 are casket in the grave they are swung down into pivotaliy secured thereto by means of suitable operative position so as to provide means wherebolts or rivets 10 which are passed through the by the bottom of the casket or vault will not rest Openings 8 as shown in Figure 2. flatly upon the floor of the grave after it has Suitable means may be form-ed upon the inner been lowered thereinto. There is thus provided faces O "t e flanges apmns which are fO'fmefl a suficient clearance between the floor of the integral with the bottom of the vault for faciligrave and the bottom of the vault for the removal tating the attac of the pp thereto of the lowering device straps. in the manner shown.

The invention will be best understood from While the supporting bolts 10 carry the supa consideration of the following detailed descrip- D S 4 in S c a manner t t e latter y tion taken in connection with the accompanying swung or pivoted thereon. they hold the ends 6 drawing forming part of this specification, with sufficiently tightly retain the pp in y the understanding, however, that the invention position to which they may be moved. Thus, when is not confined to any strict conformity with the the casket or vault is not in use the supports may showing of the drawing but may be changed or be turned up to the position shown in dotted lines modified so long as such changes or modifications 30 t at h a k t Vault y rest p its mark no material departure from the salient feabase in the usual manner.

tures of the invention as expressed in the ap- When the casket or vault has been placed in pended claims. position over the grave to be lowered thereinto In the drawing:- upon the lowering device straps the supports 4 Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a vault a e wu g w the DGSiiiOH W in full showing the application of the present invenlines and thus when the floor of the grave is tion thereto; reached the casket will be supported a few inches Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through above the same and no difficulty will be experithe lower part of the vault taken substantially enced in removing the straps from beneath it. upon the line 2-2 of Figure 1; Having thus described the invention, what is Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantialclaimed is:- ly upon the line 3-3 of Figure 2. l. The combination with a burial container, of

Referring now more particularly to the drawing a pair of bar members disposed transversely of wherein like numerals of reference indicate corthe bottom of the structure and having a portion responding parts throughout the several views, the at each end turned at right angles and having numeral 1 indicates generally a burial vault, the an aperture therethrough adjacent its free end, top and bottom portions of which are indicated and bolt means passing through the apertures of of material having a portion of each end turned. upwardly and provided With an aperture, each of said bodies extending transversely of the base and having an upturned end disposed against a boss, and a pivot screw extending through the aperture in each of said upturned ends and threadably engaging in the aperture of the adjacent boss.

WILLARD A. JOHNSEN. 

